Injector



Aug! 17, 1954 y V' G KLEIN ETAL 2,686,476

INJECTOR Filed Aug. 4, 1951 59 vx 77 93 FIG, 3, PWN@ 63 5 57 vlmlllm- 4I; 27 FIG .4 w3,

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Patented Aug. 17, 1954 INJECTOR Victor G. Klein,

Defiance, and Carl H. Mueller,

St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Lincoln Engineering Company, St. Louis,Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 4, 1951, Serial No.240,382

(Cl. B- 2) 10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to injegtors, and more particularly to lubricantinjectors.

The invention is concerned primarily with a lubricant injector for usein a lubricating system for forcing lubricant, such as oil, to variouspoints of lubrication. It will be understood, however, that theprinciples of the invention may be adaptable to an injector for purposesother than lubrication.

I-Ieretofore in the art of lubrication where it has been desired toprovide a central system for supplying lubricant to a plurality ofpoints of lubrication, it has been customary to provide a plurality oflubricant injectors, one for each such point, each injector operatingupon increase of pressure in a lubricant line supplying the injectors todeliver a measured charge of lubricant. Such multiple-injector systemsare shown, for example, in U. S. Patents 2,122,177, 2,141,022, 2,206,335and 2,283,638. Such systems require the use of as many individualinjectors as there are points to be lubricated.

The basic object of this invention is the provision of a single injectorwhich, in a single cycle of operation, is adapted to deliver measuredcharges of lubricant individually to a plurality of lubrication points,thereby making it possible in many instances to eliminate any necessityfor using an individual injector for each such point.

In general, the object of the invention is attained in an injectorcomprising a cylinder and a plunger movable in the cylinder toward andaway from a closed end of the cylinder, the cylinder having an inletport spaced from its closed end and also having a series oflongitudinally spaced outlet por-ts between the inlet port and itsclosed end, the plunger having a longitudinal passage establishingcommunication between its end toward the closed end of the cylinder anda lateral port spaced from the said end of the plunger. The plunger ismovable from a charging position, wherein the lateral port in theplunger is in communication with the inlet port of the cylinder, towardthe closed end of the cylinder through a pressure stroke successively toforce out individual charges through the outlet ports as the lateralport passes the outlet ports. Other features will be in part apparentand in part pointedfout hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope ofwhich will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention are illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in vertical sectionof an injector embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a View partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of theinjector;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section taken on line 3 3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line llof Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawing, an injector constructed in accordance with theinvention is shown to comprise a cylinder l closed at one end, this endbeing its left end as illustrated. A plunger 3 is movable in thecylinder toward and away from its closed end. The cylinder has an inletport 5 spaced from its closed end and a series of six longitudinallyspaced outlet ports l, 9, Il, I3, I5 and il between the inlet port 5 itsclosed end. The plunger is made hollow for some distance from its end I9toward the closed end of the cylinder to provide a longitudinal passage2I establishing communication between its end l 9 and a lateral port 23in the plunger spaced from the end i9. The passage 2l is longer than thelongitudinal distance from the inlet port 5 to the last outlet port Ilof the series. The plunger is movable from the charging positionillustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the lateral port 23 is in communicationwith the inlet port 5 toward the closed end of the cylinder through apressure stroke successively to force out individual charges through theoutlet ports 'l to Il as the lateral port 23 passes the outlet ports.

More particularly, the cylinder l comprises an elongate cylinder blockof generally square cross section, thereby having four flat sides 25,2l', 2e and 3i, and having a central longitudinal bore with counterbores35 and 31 at the left and right ends of the bore 33. The left end of thecylinder is closed by a. plug 39 threaded in the left counterbore 35.The plug has a closed-end bore @li forming a continuation oi the bore33. The plug also has a hexagonal head i3 for application of a wrench. Awasher 45, such as a soft metal washer, is compressed between thehexagonal head and the end of a cylinder for sealing purposes.

The inlet port 5 leads laterally into the bore 33 from the side 25 ofthe cylinder i. It has a threaded enlargement l1 toward its outer endreceiving a fitting 6:3 for connection of a lu supply line ti forsupplying lubricant under pressure to the injector, The line i, forexample, may lead to the injector from an elevated oil reservoir forgravity feed of oil to the injector. The plunger 3 has a close slidinglit in the bore 33. The lateral port 23 in the plunger is formed as anannular peripheral groove with radial openings 53 between the groove andthe passage 2l. When the plunger is in its Fig. 3 charging position,lubricant may flow from inlet port E into the groove 23 and thencethrough radial openings 53 into the hollow 2l in the plunger.

The inlet port E and the successive outlet ports 1 to I1 aresuccessively angularly offset, the outlet ports H and i1 leadingllaterally out of the bore 33 to the side 25 of the cylinder El, the onlylet ports 'i and E3 leading laterally out o the bore to the side 21, andthe outlet ports 9 and iii leading laterally out of the bore to the sideSi. The Side 29 opposite side 25 is closed. Each outlet port has athreaded enlargement ile toward its outer end receiving a fitting 51 forconnection oi a lubricant delivery line 59 leading to the point where itis desired to deliver lubricant. Each ritting 51 contains aspring-biased ball checir valve 6I.

The longitudinal spacing of the inlet port 5 and the successive outletports 'E to il is related to the width of the groove so that, as theplunger is moved from its charging position toward the closed end of thecylinder through a pressure stroke, the groove 23 cornes intocornmunication with the first outlet port 'i as it passes out ofcommunication with the inlet port and then comes into communication witheach successive outlet port as it passes out of communication with thepreceding outlet port. rrhis is accomplised by making the intervalbetween. inlet 5 and the first outlet port 'i and the intervals betweenthe successive outlet ports 'i to i? equal to the width of the groove23. By fnterval is meant the distance in the longitudinal .f

direction from the leading edge of a port (the edge nearest the closedend of the cylinder) to the trailing edge (the edge farthest from theclosed end of the cylinder) of the next successive port. These intervalsare indicated at in 3, each being equal to the width of the groove Whenthe plunger is in its Fig. 3 charging posin tion, lubricant wll flowinto the cylinder completely lill the passage El in the plunger and thespace in the cylinder beyond the end iii oi the plunger, including thebore di in the plug 39. Then, when the plunger is driven from itscharging position toward the closed end of the cylinder, lubricant isdisplaced from within the cylinder outward through the inlet port 5until the plunger reaches a position wherein the trail ing edge of thegroove 2 is out off from the inlet port and the leading edge of thegroove 2.3 encounters the trailingedge of the rst outlet port 1. Then asthe groove 5:3 passes by the outlet port 1, a charge of lubricant isforced out from the cylinder through the radial ports 53, the grooveV23, and the outlet port 1 in amount determined by the displacement ofthe plunger as it moves through the complete distance over which thegroove is open to the port. It will be seen that this distance isequivalent to twice the width of the groove i3 plus the width (diameter)of the port 1.

As the plunger continues its pressure stroke,

the leading edge 01"' the groove 23 next encounters the trailing edge ofthe next outlet port 9, as the trailing edge the groove is out ol fromthe port 5. Then the groove 2.3 passes by the port S, a charge oflubricant is forced out of the cylinder tl the outlet port 9 in amountthe same discharged through the port l. This action is repeated as thegroove 22' passes oy the remaining outlet ports il to il. Thus, as theplung driven through a pressure stroke from its charging position, egualcharges are forced out o the cylinder successively through the outpor L'E il' one arte1 another. Upon return ci the plunger to chargingposition, the c'v-flinder is recharged.

rl"he plunger ni: operated manually, mechanically or' electrically, asmay be desired. Mechanical operation may include actuation by variousmechanical movements or by fluid pres sue means. i. 2 and 5 illustrate aspecial cy g' mechanism ce ehended Within the in- Ventron adapted`during a single cycle of operation to move the plunger through a fullpressure stroke and return strolre, and then to move the plunger throughpart'al pressure stroke and return. full pressure stroke we mean moveentof the plunger through such a distance that the groove passes by all sixo the outlet ports. By partial pre. sure stroke we mean movement of theplunger through a distance such that groove .23 passes by only a part ofthe outlet ports l to il, for example only the irst two outlet ports 'iand Si. This cycling mechanism is particularl useful in an installationwherein it is desired to deliver more lubheant to some points than toothers upon each cycle of operation, noting that the charges deliveredthrough the outlet ports 'E to i1 upon a pressure stroke of the plungerare all equal.

As shown, the special cycling mechanism comprises a housing t3 having anopening t5 (Fig. 3) The cylinder l is mounted in position extending fromthe housing by means of a member e1 threaded into the counterbore 31 atthe right end of the cylinder. Plonger t 3 extends into the housing 53through a here in the member G1. A spring E@ reacts against a head 'ilon the outer end of the plunger within the housing to bias the plungerin return direction. The plunger is adapted to be moved through apressure stroke against the bias of the return spring 69 by meansincluding a cam 13 acting through an overload relier" mechanism.

The overload relief mechanism comprises a lever 15 pivoted in thehousing for swinging movement in the plane of the plunger on a stud 11.The lever has a roller l mounted on a stud El at its free end engagingthe head 1l at the end of the plunger. The stud el extends through anarcuate slot 82 in the side wall of the housing 83, its outer endserving as a handle for manual actuation independently of the cam i3.The stud 8i also serves as a pivot for an arm 33 which extends backtoward the stud 1l. The lever has a tubular extension 35 opposite thearm S3. A compression spring 81 reacts 'from a cap 8S threaded in theend of extension 25 against the arm 83 to bias the arm to a limitingposition engaging a stop 9| formed as a part oi the lever. The spring 3lis strong enough to resist movement of arm 83 relative to lever 15 undernormal resistance opposing the swinging of the lever 15, but yields ifthere is any undue resistance to movement of the plunger -3 through apressure stroke, as might be encountered, for example, due

to blocking of any of the lubricant delivery lines.

The cam T3 is mounted on a camshaft 93 journalled at its ends on theside walls of the housing 63, being positioned to engage the free end ofthe arm 83. The camshaft is continuously driven by worm gearingindicated at 95 to rotate clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1. The camshafthas a Jdat at Si with a tapped hole 99 at right angles to the flat. Thecam has a part-cylindric hub lill litting on the camshaft, and open atthe nat il?. A screw 593 is adjustably threaded into the hole 97 andextends into a hole |85 in the cam. A lock nut lil? on the screw holdsit in adjusted position, engaging the flat 3l and the edges of the hubof the cam alongside the flat. The cam has an integral lobe its forengagement with the arm 83 developed to swing the arm 83 and lever l5through such an arc about the axis of the stud 7l as to effect a fullpressure stroke of the plunger 3. When the lobe rides off the arm 83,the plunger is returned by the spring E9. Then, as the cam continues torotate, the head of the screw llS engages the arm S3 and swings the armc3 and the lever l5 through such an arc as to effect a partial pressurestroke of the plunger. When the head of the screw rides off Etile arm33, the plunger is returned by the spring The screw m3 may be adjustedby threading it in or out of the tapped hole 9S to vary the extent ofthe partial pressure stroke. It may be adjusted, for example, so as toprovide for a partial pressure stroke of such extent as to force chargesof lubricant out through the first two outlet ports l and 9, but notthrough the remaining outlet ports. Under these circumstances, upon acomplete revolution of the cam, two charges of lubricant will be forcedout of the ports 'l and 9, but only one charge will be forced out of theoutlet ports il to i7, inclusive. It will be understood that under thesecircumstances the outlet ports 'i and e will be connected by lubricantdelivery lines to points of lubrication which need twice as muchlubricant as is delivered through the lubricant delivery lines leadingfrom the remaining outlet ports li to l'l.

From the above, it will be seen that the screw serves as a second lobeon the cam it in addition to the lobe l @i9 adjustable to vary thedistance which it moves the plunger, thereby providing for variations inthe extent of a partial pressure stroke of the plunger, in case it isdesired to provide for injection of double charges of lubricant throughdifferent numbers of outlet ports on each cycle of operation.

While the specinc embodiment of the invention illustrated herein has sixoutlet ports, it will be understood that the injector may be constructedwith a greater or lesser number of outlet ports.

in view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in al limitingsense.

We claim:

l. an injector comprising a cylinder, a plunger movable in the cylindertoward and away from a constantly closed end of the cylinder, thecylinder having a lateral inlet port spaced from said closed end and aseries of longitudinally spaced lateral outlet ports between the inletport and said closed end, the plungei` having a longitudinal passageestablishing communication between its end toward the closed end of thecylinder and a lateral port in the plunger spaced from said end of theplunger a distance greater than the longitudinal distance from the inletport to the last outlet port of the series nearest the closed end of thecylinder, the plunger being movable from a charging position, whereinthe lateral port is in communication with the inlet port and wherein theplunger closes all the outlet ports, through a pressure stroke towardthe closed end of the cylinder successively to force out individualcharges through the outlet ports as the lateral port passes the outletports.

2. An injector` as set forth in claim 1 wherein the interval between theinlet port and the rst outlet port of the series and the intervalsbetween the successive outlet ports are equal to the width of thelateral port in the plunger.

3. An injector as set forth in claim 2 wherein the inlet port and thesuccessive outlet ports are successively angularly offset, and whereinthe lateral port in the plunger is formed by an annular peripheralgroove in the plunger with at least one radial opening between thegroove and the longitudinal passage in the plunger.

4. In combination, an injector comprising a cylinder, a plunger movablein the cylinder toward and away from a constantly closed end of thecylinder, the cylinder having a lateral inlet port spaced from saidclosed end and a series of longitudinally spaced lateral outlets portsbetween the inlet port and said closed end, the plunger having alongitudinal passage establishing communication between its end towardthe closed end of the cylinder and a lateral port in the plunger spacedfrom. said end of the plunger a distance greater than the longitudinaldistance from the inlet port to the last outlet port of the seriesnearest the closed end of the cylinder, the plunger being movable from acharging position wherein the lateral port is in communication with theinlet port and wherein the plunger closes all the outlet ports, througha pressure stroke toward the closed end of the cylinder successively toforce out individual charges through the outlet ports as the lateralport passes the outlet ports, and cycling mechanism acting in a singlecycle to eiect a full pressure stroke and return of the plunger and apartial pressure stroke and return of the plunger.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein the cycling mechanismcomprises a cam acting on the plunger and having two lobes, one formoving the plunger through a full pressure stroke and the other formoving the plunger through a partial stroke.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the said other lobe isadjustable for varying the extent of the partial pressure stroke.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the cam acts on theplunger through an overload relief mechanism.

8. An injector comprising a fiat-sided cylinder block having a boreconstantly closed at one end, a plunger movable in the bore toward andaway from the closed end, the block having a lateral inlet port leadinginto the bore from one at side and spaced from the closed end, and aseries of longitudinally spaced lateral outlet ports between the inletport and the closed end leading out of the bore through various flatsides of the block, the plunger having a longitudinal passageestablishing communication between its end toward the closed end of thebore and a lateral port in the plunger spaced from said end of theplunger a distance greater than the longitudinal distance from the inletport to the last outlet port of the series nearest the closed end of thebore, the plunger being movable from a charging position wherein thelateral port is in communication with the inlet port and wherein theplunger closes all the outlet ports through a pressure stroke toward theclosed end of the bore successvely to force out individual chargesthrough the outlet ports as the lateral port passes the outlet ports.

9. An injector as set forth in claim 8 wherein the interval between theinlet port and the first outlet port of the series and the intervalsbetween the succcessive outlet ports are equal to the width of thelateral port in the plunger.

10. An injector as set forth in claim 9 wherein the lateral port in theplunger is formed'by an annular groove in the plunger with at least oneradial opening between the groove and the lon gitudinal passage in theplunger.

References Cited in the rile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,623,240 Goodrich Apr. 5, 1927 1,893,217 Babitch Jan. 3, 19331,952,746 De Long Mar. 27, 1934 2,139,155 Gernandt Dec. 6, 19382,360,093 Ainslie et a1 Oct. 10, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 259,660 Italy July 21, 1928 450,025 Great Britain July 9, 1936

